Analyzing John Updike's Short Story 'A & P'

Week 2 Assignment: Short Story A & P Analysis

By: Sarah E. Friday

08-26-2014

ENG125: Introduction to Literature (ADI1433A)

Instructor: Patricia Lake

The short story A & P (John Updike, 1961) seems to me that the theme is about Sammy, one of three store clerks and how he perceives the customers, mainly three younger ladies who were not of the norm for the typical grocery shopping experience. The grocery store was located in the center of town not so close to the beach as the young ladies were dressed for. The store manager engages them with his modesty concerns which Sammy later decides was so wrong that he quit his job.

Sammy is nineteen years of age and observing these three young ladies
It was obvious they did not care what others thought of them, they kept to what they were there for, paid for their merchandise, and went about their business. The gals had no regard for modesty.

“Queenie”, as Sammy referred to her, was the one making the purchase of “The Kingfish Fancy
Herring Snacks in Pure Sour Cream” was a symbol in Sammy’s eyes the moment she rebutted his manager’s comment about their attire that they were for her mother. The symbolism here is because from Sammy’s perspective, the moment she stated the purchase was for her mother, he envisioned she came from money. She appeared as if the “leader” of the three young ladies. He liked what she represented even though still a bit unsure of what that is.

Another symbol here is Queenie for Sammy. She represents a sort of freedom that he did not obtain as he worked this job as a clerk because it pleased his parents. He was not out enjoying the beach and sunshine she and her friends were able to.

In Sammy’s description of Queenie, he tells of her wearing a, “dirty-pink-beige” bathing suit. If we follow the red symbolism here, we know that this represents passion and danger,
The grocery store is said to be darker inside where it is not lit so well. Darkness is a symbol for fear, ignorance, evil, danger, and mystery. These young ladies had been outside, which represents hope, knowledge, truth, and safety. Here I’m seeing a transition for Sammy as he makes the decision to walk out on his job into the light. Perhaps this is where he begins to leave the fear behind that has kept him at this job and the mystery these young ladies carry gives him the courage and hope that he will find something that is better suiting to him, perhaps making him overall happier.

Yet another symbol I noted was the fact that this story took place in the summer. Summer is the symbol of maturity. Thus, perhaps Sammy was not just having a revelation as it seems, but was growing up and finding himself. His manager made a statement about how Sammy should consider how upset him quitting his job will make his parents. We know that Sammy is nineteen and this is an age where most of us have begun making choices more freely without